Tag: Races

Registration Now Open for 35th Annual Winter Race Series: Shiver by the River!

by pagodapacers

Dates: 2nd Sunday, December-March (Dec 8th , Jan 12th , Feb 9th , March 9th)

Time: 10 a.m. start (Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.)

Location: Jim Dietrich Park, Muhlenberg Twp.

Come out and join us for the best winter race series in the area!!

If you have never run a Shiver race, or if it’s been a few years, let us remind you of what makes this series great: it keeps you motivated to run through the winter, and it helps you reconnect with local runners you haven’t seen for years!

If you are one of the many runners we see year after year, we look forward to seeing you again!

Online registration for the series is open and can be found at Pretzel City Sports.

Once again, we are not mailing apps! However, we will accept mail-in registrations. Apps can be printed from the Pagoda Pacers website, or you can pick one up at any of the many races timed by Pretzel City Sports. We plan to also have copies at our monthly meetings (if we remember to bring them).

Pre-registration is only available for the series; however, we will have race-day registration for both the series and individual races.

This year’s swag is a tank top in both women’s and men’s sizes. Great colors!!!!

Each race includes a post-race buffet of soup, pretzels, and snacks. Our end-of-series party includes a hot and cold buffet plus lots and lots of door prizes, overall awards, and 5-year age group awards. As always, this buffet is free to any runner who
registers for the series or runs at least 3 races. There is a nominal charge for all others.

Come out and join us for our 35th season!!!!!!

Race Directors,
Sue Jackson, Georgine McCool, Tiffany Pantoja

Final Blues Cruise Training Run Set for 9/7/24

by pagodapacers

We will meet at the Old Church Road parking area  at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday, September 7th, and carpool to the lower Stilling Basin lot, to run point-to-point on the Blues Cruise course, starting about 8 a.m.

The run is almost 16 miles. Runners can easily shorten it to just under 14 miles by skipping the Skinner’s Loop portion, and of course adding miles is easy too.

(For those looking for a shorter option, an out-and-back of your desired distance is also an easy option. Just meet us at the Stilling Basin so we can run the first few miles together!)

Please comment on the Facebook Event Page if you have questions or need suggestions. Bring water and nutrition! The route features about 1600 feet of climbing.

This will be a great day to dial in your race-day gear! This includes some of our favorite parts of the Blues Cruise course!

For those who have the time, several of us usually grab lunch together after. Hope to see you there!

Sometimes It Feels GOOD to Have the Blues

by pagodapacers

Blues Cruise needs you! 

The Pacers’ most challenging event is the Blues Cruise 50K, which requires about 100 volunteers and lasts 12 hours from set up to clean up.  This year’s race is on Sunday, October 6, with set up starting at 6am, and clean up finishing at 6pm. 

While a number of folks are there for the long haul, most of our volunteers work a shift of a few hours.  As we did last year, we’re asking volunteers to go to the Blues Cruise page on UltraSignUp  and click the green volunteer button next to the registration button in the banner. There you will agree to the waiver which allows you to be covered by our insurance. Then you can select one (or more!) volunteer duties. 

We’d love to get some of our newer members out to volunteer!  I think all the veteran volunteers will agree that this is a truly rewarding day and a great way to meet more of the club. Many of the BC runners are new to ultra running and our volunteers make all the difference–as the runner surveys indicate. 

If you are an experienced ultra runner, your expertise is invaluable; and if you’ve never run an ultra, beware!  Spending a day at this event is likely to get you signing up as a runner next year! 

If you’d like to volunteer, but can’t participate on the 6th, check out the list.  We need course maintenance throughout September, and we need course markers on Saturday October 5th, as well as gear cleanup on Monday October 7th. 

Finally, our final Blues Cruise training run is Saturday September 7 for a 14 mile course preview–check out the Facebook event page for details!  Thanks everyone, you are the ones who make this race great.  Looking forward to seeing you there!

click here to register as a volunteer!

Elaine and Michael

Registration is OPEN for the 38th Annual Kris Kringle 5-Miler!

by pagodapacers

The Pagoda Pacers Athletic Club is happy to invite you to the 38th annual Kris Kringle 5-Mile Run on Sunday, December 29th!

Looking to squeeze one last fun event in over the Christmas break? This race is always a family favorite, with proceeds benefiting the Berks County Cross Country Coaches Association. So grab your friends & family and close out 2024 with us!

Course: The course features a mix of road and easy trail sections through Blue Marsh and the Union Canal Trail.We’ll be running counter-clockwise this year. Strollers and walkers are welcome. Dogs are not permitted at this event. 

Registration Fees: ALL registration fees are RACE ONLY 

  • $25 per runner through December 3, 2024
  • $30 per runner from December 4 to December 15, 2024 at midnight
  • Day-of registration: $30 (hoodies will not be available for purchase)
  • ONLINE REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE ON DECEMBER 15th at 11:59PM EST

Option to add a hoodie for an additional cost during checkout.

Hoodies: 

  • This year’s hoodie will be Dark Heathered Green, as voted on by you! You can get a sneak peek when you go through the registration process. 
  • Hoodies are not included with the race registration cost but can be added to your order during the checkout process for $18 until December 3, 2024
  • Deadline to order: December 3, 2024
  • Must be picked up at the race; no holds. No additional hoodies will be sold at the event.

Race Day Info:

  • Registration: 8:30 AM  |  Race Start: 10:00 AM
  • Same-day registration will be available at $30 per runner (no hoodie option)
  • Leave your doggy pals at home, please. No dogs permitted at this event. 

Awards:

  • Overall: Top 2 male and female (not eligible for age group awards)
  • Age Groups: Top 3 male and female in 5-year brackets from U14 to 69, plus a 70+ category
  • Top High School Teams: Teams in Open (all male or mixed) or Female (girls only) divisions. XC scoring used (lowest point total wins).This will be the last year for the team competition due to low participation. 
  • **NEW THIS YEAR!**: Awards for the oldest male and female finisher

Weather: In case of inclement weather on race day, updates will be sent to the email address used for registration. 

Keep up with the latest updates and race fun by joining our Facebook Group: Kris Kringle 5 Mile Run

click here to register!

Gring’s Mill 5k / 10k This Weekend!

by pagodapacers

Looking for a flat, fast, beautiful 5k or 10k race this weekend? Sign up NOW for the Gring’s Mill 5k / 10k at the Berks County Heritage Center on Sunday, August 4th, at 9 a.m.!

Can’t race? Would you prefer to volunteer? Please contact race director Jason Karpinski at gringsmilldirector@pagodapacers.com.

Alternatively, you can also help out by giving a “push” to an adaptive athlete as part of the RaceMates program. Interested? Contact Michael Whalen via the RaceMates FB page.

Next Pacer Race: Gring’s Mill 5k/10k on Sunday, August 4th

by pagodapacers

Come join us for this flat and fast mid-summer race on the scenic Gring’s Mill canal path! 

The start/finish location will be at the Berks County Heritage Center, located at 1102 Red Bridge Road, off of Route 183.

This event features both 5K and 10K race options, plus a kids’ run for those bringing the whole family.

Bib pickup opens at 7:30 a.m. 

5k/10k starts at 9:00 a.m.

Kids’ Run starts at approximately 10:15 a.m.   

Online registration is open–click the button below!

register

Not interested in racing, but want to help out? Email race director Jason Karpinski (gringsmilldirector@pagodapacers.com) and let him know!

OVCC Set for 11/3/24

by pagodapacers

Mark your calendar: Sunday, November 3, 2024—we will run and celebrate the 30th annual Oley Valley Country Classic 10-Miler and 5k. This will be a special, one-of-a-kind event!

This year, the race will start and end at Oley Valley High School. Pre/post-race activities and registration will be indoors. There will be plenty of off-street parking for this year’s RRCA Eastern Regional Championship race. Despite the new starting location, the course will be almost entirely identical to the previous year’s course. 

This course is awesome: slightly rolling hills over rural roads along Oley’s beautiful landscape. The changing leaves and cool temps this time of year add to the scenic nature of the Fall Classic.

Munchiez Food Truck will be on site serving breakfast plus their regular menu! We will also serve some post-race fare—carbs and fruit!  

Register by October 21 to guarantee your long sleeve shirt, and join us at this great event! The shirt will incorporate past logos as well as a unique one for our 30th running of the OVCC!

Follow us on Facebook (oleyvalleycountryclassic) for updates and more race details.

Links to our race application and online registration will soon be available on our website: https://www.pagodapacers.com/Races-Results/Races/Oley-Valley-Country-Classic.aspx

Croc-o-Mile

A new special event this year will be the running of the 1st annual Croc-O-Mile!  Who is the fastest human in Crocs? Lets find out…it’s all for fun and for charity anyway, so enjoy running the Croc-O-Mile on the high school track for only $5. We will run this event throughout the morning, so you will have ample chance to run our primary events (10M/5K) and still squeeze in a Croc-O-Mile! 

More details to come on this, but count on it being fun! People may travel from all over the world for the first Croc-O-Mile!

Questions? Email the RD—oleyvalleycountryclassic@gmail.com

Looking forward to an exciting morning for everyone to run their hearts out!  

Cool Swag (while it lasts) for “Run for the Ages” 10k Trail Chase

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race #2 of the “Triple Trail Challenge” on June 30, 8:30am, Nolde Forest

Come out for the only trail race with an age graded start (that we know of) on the east coast. Top age group performers have a legitimate shot at the overall title. Even if you aren’t out to win, the race is run on challenging yet very runnable trails in beautiful Nolde Forest with virtually no bottle necks. Challenge your families and coworkers to come out and compete on a “level” playing field.

Hey young speedsters: Here’s a chance to show off a little by passing the whole pack! 

What’s an age-graded start? Those who have more than a few gray hairs or have yet to hit puberty will get a head start based on age and gender. Typically, the oldest female wave starts first. Then the next wave will start, based on 5-year age groups, working toward the 20-30 year-old (faster?) folks. Wave starts will bounce back and forth between sexes, as the handicap derived from the World Masters Association dictates. The actual handicap for each division is posted at http://www.PagodaPacers.com

The first 10 overall finishers get Nolde Forest Pottery plates; Fleet Feet gift cards go to the top three finishers. Top age group bling will also be awarded.

We are also offering cool swag (see below) to those who register early (while supplies last). 

Registration: $35 with swag or $30 without. Race caps at 200. Race-day registration available unless participant cap is reached.

Part of all race proceeds will be donated to the Friends of Nolde for park projects and improvements.

click here to register!

2024 Charlie Horse / Dirty Pony Recap

by pagodapacers

by Kelly Ammon

The 27th running of the Charlie Horse Trail Half-Marathon and Dirty Pony 5k took place on May 26th without any major problems. The weather did get a little hot as the temperatures peaked in the high 80s, but nothing a few mud pits couldn’t fix for the runners. Even with the heat, every runner that made it to the start line also made it to the finish: 130 for the Charlie Horse and 39 for the Dirty Pony, respectively. 

Both races had near photo finishes. Cody Harris was able to secure first place male and Lindsey Gruber first place female in the Dirty Pony 5k. Brian Wiest crossed the finish line a mere second before runner-up Brandon Fogarty to take first place male in the Charlie Horse. Megan Kane took first place female and Jody Zegestowsky followed behind a few minutes later. 

The course changed slightly this year to bring the Charlie Horse distance closer to a true half marathon. Participants enjoyed the new addition, but, as tradition, everyone is just waiting for the last section. (Or they’re so excited for it, they jump straight to it and run the Dirty Pony.) Judging by the smiles and mud (so much mud!) plastered on the finishers’ faces, Charlie didn’t disappoint.

 On behalf of my co-race directors, Shaun and Libby, I’d like to thank everyone who came out to support the race and Special Olympics of Berks County. Whether you ran, cheered, or volunteered, we really could not have done it without the help of our Pacer community. 

See you on the trails 🤙🏻

Kelly

PS: Anyone who completed the Charlie Horse Half is officially one third of the way through the Triple Trail Challenge! It’s not too late to sign up for Run for the Ages (June 30) and Blues Cruise (October 6).

Charlie Horse & Dirty Pony Set for May 26, 2024!

by pagodapacers

Mark your calendars: Sunday, May 26th is this year’s date for the Charlie Horse Trail Half Marathon and the Dirty Pony 5k at Sleepy Hollow Athletic Club in Mohnton, PA.

The last day to pre-register online is 5/23. Day-of registration will be available starting at 7:30 AM. If you haven’t run the race in a while, please note that we are making some course changes that have added a bit more trail in beautiful Brecknock Twp.

And if you aren’t feeling up to running the races, we are always looking for volunteers. Please sign up for volunteering by clicking the “Volunteer tab” at the race page on Ultrasignup.com. 

And new for this year, the Charlie Horse Trail Half Marathon is the first race in the new Triple Trail Challenge 50.3. Complete the Charlie Horse Trail Half Marathon, the Run For the Ages Trail Chase 10k, and the Blues Cruise 50k to qualify for extra goodies and bragging rights! Runners completing these three races will get some sweet running swag at the Blues Cruise finish line. No special registration required–just sign up for all three races.

register now!